One of the most well-known and most visited of all Hawaii destinations is the extravagant Waikiki Beach. Located along the southeastern side of Oahu, Waikiki features one of Hawaii’s best stretches of beaches, and one of the most popular beaches in the world. Here the powder white sand fronts clear blue ocean water that provides a picturesque scenes you will ever see, with the ocean backed by a long line of hotels and restaurants, with the towering mountains in the background. Add in Diamond Head, and you’ve got a setting that has become synonymous with the Hawaiian Islands. This stretch of the island is THE place on Oahu to stay, and the entire area has a long history that dates back to the earliest days of Hawaii.
Along Waikiki Beach, you’ll find over 100 hotels, offering accommodations for visitors from around the world. Beach access is incredibly easy throughout Waikiki, with many places to set up for the day located just steps from some of the best resorts in Hawaii. Some choose to spend their entire vacation exploring Waikiki, and while this is definitely a good way to spend a vacation, getting out and exploring the entire island is much preferred, and a large majority of Hawaii Tours and Activities originate in Waikiki, offering pick ups from most hotels, or at consolidated locations within walking distance of your chosen place to stay.
In the earliest days of Hawaii, Waikiki was a wetland, resembling a swamp that was filled streams, rivers, and springs flowing into the area from the mountains and rainforests. “Waikiki”, translates to “spouting water”, the name taken from the natural springs that spouted throughout the area. Beginning in the 1800s, Waikiki turned into an escape for Hawaii’s royalty, and large scale development began to transform the area. In those days, royalty would make the trek from downtown Honolulu to retreat to the beach and the hotels that started to populate the area. A far cry from Honolulu and Waikiki as we know it today, the commute took many hours, and was done via horse and carriage.
Today, the streets of Waikiki are packed with action. Visitors enjoy all that the area has to offer, including shopping, dining, sightseeing, and the powder white sand beach. There is something for everyone along Waikiki Beach, and you can always pay a visit to the grounds of one of the historic hotels, like the Moana Surfrider, or a modern day resort, like the Hilton Hawaiian Village.
Time spent along Waikiki Beach is time well spent. Visitors to the area are welcomed with plenty to do, so many great restaurants, and easy access to one of the most famous beaches in the world. If you’re staying along Waikiki, you’ll have the added luxury of pick ups for your fun Hawaii tours and activities, and return to your pick up point following your day. Take a moment to look around and soak in the beauty of the area during your visit; there is no place like Waikiki in Hawaii.
Due to the high volume of visitors traveling to Hawaii year round, our Oahu tours and Oahu activities sell out quickly. In many cases, tours sell out weeks or months in advance, especially our top seller Aloha Kai Luau at Sea Life Park. To ensure your spots on tour, we recommend reserving your tours today. Call our office or book online to take advantage of our low price guarantee today.
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